Welding



.y Aug413,19635 J. R; SOSKA. TAI. 3,100,832 f Y WELDING'.

Filed Feb. 1s, .1962 f 2 sheets-sheet 1 f INVEN TOR. 7a/,w fr .www Y Jaffe# kfw/wmf ltrodes. f

fment. l f

, arrasar A 71%100532 y. j WELDlNG ff a IlohnR. Sosolra, Glendora, and Joseph V'Rohinsou,

Arcadia, Calif., assignorstoUnitek Corporation, llt/ilonrov'ia,Califl, a corporation:ofljCalifornia. ,Y Y `Filed Feb. l3,-1962`,.Ser.No.172,992 f 2 claims` (craie-as) This invention relatesto *spot Welders, and more, par,-l

ticularlyto self-aligning assembly for spot Welder elecby specialized yworkers using jigsparticularly designed` `In conventional spot welding, metal piecesare squeezed `together.betweeriielectrode tips.4 After the applicatiouof proper pressure,"current is passed from the electrodes through tliemetal pieces. fV The high resistance at the point of .contactbetween the partsy cause the metal to melt andthe parts to fuse together. .f

`With repeated use, the electrode tips tend to "become pitted or .dirty and must be cleaned or reshaped as neces- ;sary. 'Tominimize'work stoppage on a productionV line,

and. toV avoid theV possibility 'ofycontarninating jproducts, thev cleaning and reshaping of;electrode4 tips preferably isdone "in aiV special area located away from the equipv In the past, when an' electrode' tip became pitted or dirty, the voperator removedthe tip from the Welder, and

Patentedug. 13, 1963 a` .i line. The tips .are also accurately located on the holders for such'work. vThus, the tips are accurately mounted on .the 'holders without interfering witnproduction Preferably, theassembly includesa pairof arms and holders `sothat a pair of opposing electrode tips can be -mounted Yon two welder arms with respective self-aligning.` ,Y

assemblies.

The preferred embodiment ralso includes meanslforY securing the 4body to the` arm to be adjustable in a direction transverse tothe direction of arm movement during the t welding operation.v Such an adjustment permits iinecom- `fpensation forv tolerance variations inconstruction ofthe Welder.

The aligning means' onv the holder arid" :body preferably prevent `a rotationjof the holder about its lon- ,gitudinalaxis and also serve as a stop to limit thelorigiholder in one direction with respect tudinal travel ,of the to the body.

` These andpother fully understood from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in'which:

FIG. l is a fragmentary perspective view of a spot Welder having electrode tips mounted with the self-aligning assemblyof thisV invention;

FIG; 2 is an exploded view `of the holder and body as e yshown mounted on vthe arms in the welder of FIG. l;

replaced thetip with a new one.V This procedure has the Y disadvantage, particularly for precision work, of leaving it to the judgmentand skill of the individual operator toA locate the new 'electrode tip properly inthe electrode arm. e This procedure is time consuming and does not always produce uniform results due to variations in -techniques of individual operators. For particularly delicate workr'which may require watch-making precision, it has been common practice 'to use special aligning tools irl an effort to obtain proper mounting of the new electrode tips. This Vprocedure is also time consuming,` and does not always produce uniform results.

This invention provides a self-aligningfelectrde tip holder which automatically iits into a desiredposition on position. With the Self-aligning holder of this invention,

a Worn electrode` 'tip yis replaced'by an operator simply removing the electrode tipholder from the welding arm. j Another holder, on which is mounted a tnew or reworked electrode tip, is` automatically and quickly mounted on the electrode arm by theoperator. `This eliminates the of the operators individual skill.

f Brieily, thein ention'includes a body having alportioiri adapted tobe secured tothe llarmf of a spot Welder. v A

holder is adapted to t with the body. `Thefbody and holder each include respective aligning means which mate when the body and holder are ttedrtogether, so that the la welder arm to mount ia new electrode tip inthe 'proper need for the operator Vtoadjus-t the position of the elec# f trode tip, and also produces uniform resultsgkregardless aligning means automatically lock thesbody and holders-f y in a `ired position with respect to each other.y An elec-- Vtrode' tip 'is mounted oni the holder so that" when the holder is iitted to the body, fthe.tip is automatically se-l cured inthe desired position-Vwithjrespect tothelwelder' arm.

` j Preferably; means are provided-"for releasablysecuifiiig the electrode tip to the holder. 'With arrangement, the electrode-tips can beremoved from the holder, prop'- erlyV cleaned, arid resphapedyasnecessary, and thenbe worn orfdirtyv electrode tips can becleaned' andfreshaped relocated in the holder vjigwliichf accurately positions `lthe tipin the holder.` T'heftipL can `then b e'rigidlyfclampedl to the holderandthe holderandftipiretunnedQto .thepro-fY Y ductionV line for furthenuse. .With this; arrangement,

by skilled workers in an area remote from the production i;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of alternate embodiment of the invention; J v

FIG 4 is a view taken online of FIG; i3;

PIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of another embodiment of the invention; e

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of an alternate embodiment .of the body and electrode holder; f

,PIG 7- is a view taken approximately on line FIG. 6; t

FIG. 8 is a side elevation of the presently preferred embodiment ofthe body'and electrode holder; and

Referring'toAl-IGS. l' and2, a Welder A1l), 'slayiof the 1 type Idisclosed in U.S. Patentj2',8f72,564', includes a iir'st orfhorizontal 4lower arm 12" and "a second or `horizontal -rupper arme-14 in as. plane which passes through lowerarm l2. The upper arm is movable vtoward andfaway from the nlower arm in the plane common to both arms. The

mounting of thearms'can be of any suitable arrangement, such asthat shown in U.S. Patent 2,872,564.

The lower arm includes `a longitudinal cylindricalb'ore llr6 opening` .out of its outer'rend to receive -the inner end of'an elongated cylindrical body 18. The lower portion of the lower. arm includes a longitudinal split 20'exte`ndi ing-from the Vbore to; the bottom edge of the arm. A trans- 4verse socket head screw ZZextends Vthrough la b'ore (not f shown)y on one side of the split arm and into -a `threaded bore (not shown) on the other side Vof lthe arm. Thus', by

turning *they screwjkzzk in, one/ direcvtion,` theQbody 18 is rigidly clamped inthe "arml-yj By turning the screw inthev n Y `opposite direction, thfefkbody isreleased from the arm so the body can be rota-tedfi'about its`longitudinal axis or moved longitudinally with respect to the arm.

f, The outery end of thefebody includes a longitudinalicylin;

`drical bore 24 which recives'the inner end of an elongated, generally` cylindrically shaped hol-der .26. The

upper portion of the bodyincludes a longitudinal Slo-t28 extendinghfrom the outer endofthe bore ya' short distance toward the welderto reeeive'aprojection 30 on the holder.A Thus, the' holder slips'the` maXimumdistariceinto the body :only when theA projection 30 isalignedwithslot 2 8. A"V

transverse socket `head set screwf32 in the 4bodyj i`s`,ad-V justedvto bear against the hol-der and'preventfit from moving longitudinally in the body.

The outer end ofr the holder isbifuircated into opposing i` i sections 33, each of which include'opposing semicircular aspects of the invention lwillbe vmore `part`of Ithe notched portion ofthe holder.

grooves* 34 to receive an elongated electrode tip 36. A

i transverse socket head screw 38 extends through -the bifurcated portion of the holder and is threaded into one y,ofthe portions 33. The electro-de tip can be rotated and adjusted longitudinallyV with-respect to ythe holder, land then be clamped lirmlyin a desired position by tightening screw 38.

A n upper self-aligning electrode assembly 40 is mounted A.

on the upperarm ofthe Welder. .The upper self-aligning i y(assembly is 'identical with the lower end, and therefore a 'detailed description of itis notrepe'a'ted. However, like vreference numbers have .beenplaced on corresponding .eler'nentsV g p Ordinarily, therespective bodies on each .arm are accuj fratel'y adjusted along their longitudinal axesV and located to position the electrode tips on a lineparallel'to the direction in which the movable armmoves.

.In4 the use of -theassembly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, 'the vupper arm is moved toward and away from the lower farm to bring fthe electrode tips into lcontajct with `the work the holder longitudinally out of they body. Anotherholder (not shown) with aclean and properly shaped electrode tip, whichhasf previously been directly positioned in the holder, is slipped into theiouter end of the body opening and clamped firmly in place-by tightening screw 32. The

`project-ion 30 and slot 28 insure correct alignment of the replaced electrode tip. Thus, an operator need not be concerned about cleaning or reshaping an electrode tip, or tryingto align the tip withrespect to the welder arm.

` 86 to a rel-atively long and slightly smaller diameter sec-l '7"(not shown). If oneof the tips becomes pitted or dirty, ,itIis removed'simply byloosening screw 32 and sliding IlIn the embodiment of'FIGS 6 and 7,.the self-aligning assembly includes an elongated body 80 having a bore 82 tion 87. The right end` ofsectionv87 merges into an elongated and slightly tapered section 88, which reduces the mass of lthe body. Thel upper (asviewed in FIGS.. 61 and 7) Vportion of the enlarged part of the body is split between the ears 84` -along Ya longitudinal 4slot 89 fro-n1 the left (as viewed in FIG. 6) end ofthe body to a point"` just shortof the right end of the enlarged body portion.

A transverse socket head screw 90 extendsithrorugh hores Transverse bore 92 is thread-ed 91 Tand 92. in the ears84. n so that as `screw 90 istightened, opposite halves'of the body `are rorced'to squeeze tightly against the right (as Y viewed in FIG. 6) end ofan elongated ge'nerallycylindrif cal holder 94 disposed in the Vsection 8.7 of Vbore,82.""1`h'e This reduces down time for the machine, andr increases j the quality vand uniformity of the work.

Of course, the holderneed-nott into a'body opening .and the-mating portions ofthe bodyrand holder need not necessarily be round. An alternate embodiment is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4,.using theupper-arm of the Welder as fan example.. A body 41 includes a cylindricalv portion i 42 which litsl into a cylindrical 'bore 44 of the upper arm 14. v T heouter end of the body includes anintegrally formed tongue46 which is squarein .cross section and extends intoY af matching opening 48vat the split inner end of an electrodetip holder 50. Asocket head screw 572 extends down through abjore 54 in the upper portion of-the notched part fofv the holder.' The screw also extends througharbore 56in the tongue of the body and is threaded atits 'lower end into a threaded bore 5S in the bottom 52 is tightened, theholder is clamped rmly against the tongue to make good electrical contact. The outer` end of vthe holder is bifurcated and is clamped together by a screw 60 to hold anV electrode tip-62. The'advantage of the arrangement in FIGS. 3 and4 is-that it provides for surface contact between the body and the holder tolpro-V vide goodelectrical contact. 1 In the arrangement shownin FIGUS, .a

. external diameter and includes a pairf of outwardly ex` j Y tending opposite ears 106 formed integrally with the body.'` `iWhen screw L;

enlarged part of the body is a split between the ears ,106`

cludes a llange 66 spaced from itsfinner end, and iitsat intofthe opening 68. Anlelectrodeftip 74 is secured to y. thexouter end ofthe holderjas previously described for i the other embodiments;

Vitsinner end into anV opening 68` `at ,theouter end of a j j; bore 70. j lThe opening Y68 and crosssection of the inner j end of vtheholder can rbe any desired shape, but, preferably, it isV one otherlthan circular to Vprovide automatic orientation of theholder aboutitslongitudinal axis with respect to'the'bodyf IFor example, the opening 68 and A y cross section of the inner end of the holder 64 may be jsquare, or hexagonal, to provide a variety of holder positions. 'A collar 72 makes `a close iit at. `its outer lend around the holder 64, whichV is roundin cross section to l. theright (as viewed infFIG..5)- of the, flange 66. rThe 'jinner endof,the;collar, is threaded internally .tojscrew onto-,th`e`extern`al threaded outerend oflthe body 70. I Thus",l asrthe collar'72kis tightened ontothe body, the Y collarfbearsV against the flange 6 6 and lforcesvthe, holder holder carries ran outwardly 'extending anddnteg'relfly lformed aligning projectionf96, which is' Vsha'ped, l'with the V pointing to the Vright (as 'viewed'in FIG. 6:) along the longitudinal axis of the holder toft intoLonefof Ithe four V-shaped notches 1,98 located around the Vperiphery of the left end of section SSof home2. Thus, theparlticular notch in which projection 96 fits accurately locatesran electrode tip 99 secured to the le-ft (asviewed in FIG. 6)

of the holder by a screw -100 in a manner previously described. v

The arrangement shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 has `the ladvantage of providing good electrical contact between the -body yand the holder, and also permitsthe holder to be accurately adjusted .intol any one of the several positions determined by the notches 98l This increases the ilexibility and rutility of the Welder.

In ythe presentlyV preferred embodiment lshown in FIGS.

8 and 9, anv elongated body l'02--has a bore 103 extendingl entirely through it. The right (as viewed'in FIG. 8) Vend 1014 of vthe -body is cylindrical and adaptedfto litI intoay Welder arm. The left end of the body is of larger The left end of bore 103 includes -a rst section 10'7 which tapers down to aV second sectionA 108 of slightly smaller diameter to form the right end of bore 103.

The upper (as viewed in FIGS. 8 and 9.) portion of the along longitudinal slot 109 -from the left (as viewed in AFIG. ,8) end of the body just shortof the right end of the 'enlarged bodyportion(4 M j p v A transverse socket head screw 110 extends through a smooth'bore 112 in one ofthe years and into a threaded ."bore 113 in the other ear, sothat as the screw 110 is tightened, opposite halves-of the bodyare forced to squeeze tightly against the right (as viewed in FIG, 8)k end of an hole 116 of matchingcross section to extend through the left (as viewed in FIG. 8)#end of the` holder. A setscrewA 118; secures 'the electrode tip in the holder. The hole in ther holder and the electrode tip are oriented so that one- ,corner of 'the squarecross section ofthe tip extendsiiijito a pair of collinear V-Shaped notches 120 formed across the left (as viewed Vin` FIG;l 8) end of the body. adjacent` the outer endrof'thelsection l107offbore103. Thus, the". electrode tip serves `as its own guide and aligningmeans when-thefholderis Ydisposed in the body -as shown inFIGS.`

8 and 9.] This arrangement has the advantage ofeliinin'at-l ing the need for aligning the electrode tip with respectfto a separate aligning means on t-he holder, as is thecase with i adapted to t'with the body, rst aligning means on theV body, second aligning means on the holder, so When the body and holder are viittec'l together they are located ina xed position with respect to each other, andan electrode tip secured to the holder. V

2. A self-aligning -assembly lfor spot Welderzelectrodes, the assembly comprising a body having an opening and a portion adapted to be secured to an arm of a spot Welder,

a holderl adapted to fit into the opening in the body, the

-body having a plurality of notches in it and spa-ced around ,the opening, a projection on the holder disposed to l.t into any one'of thev notches so the body and holder may be [fitted together in different xed positions with respect to each other, means for clamping the body and holder together, and. an electrode tip secured to the holder.

, ReferencesfCited in the-file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A SELF-ALIGNING ASSEMBLY FOR SPOT WELDER ELECTRODES, THE ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A BODY HAVING A PORTION ADAPTED TO BE SECURED TO AN ARM OF A SPOT WELDER, A HOLDER ADAPTED TO FIT WITH THE BODY, FIRST ALIGNING MEANS ON THE BODY, SECOND ALIGNING MEANS ON THE HOLDER, SO WHEN THE BODY AND HOLDER ARE FITTED TOGETHER THEY ARE LOCATED IN A FIXED POSITION WITH RESPECT TO EACH OTHER, AND AN ELECTRODE TIP SECURED TO THE HOLDER. 